When I say missed opportunity, I should say missed necessity.
Let me explain.
I picked up my 35-pin connector kit yesterday at the dealership so I could finish the install on the new iPod Interface module which required the removal, again, of the front fairing. I put my '09 SERG up on the center lift and cleaned the bike "again" and then proceeded to finish things up.
All went great and the iPod mode showed up on the screen and music was play'n big time. My wife was pushing me because we had a dinner date with some old friends and we were going to ride instead of drive. We had to leave by 4:30 and I was still using cable ties to snatch everything down under the fairing. I've found over the now many times having the fairing appart that taking off the windshield gives me more visibility to the fit location on the front top to get everything snapped into place.
So I got everything back together and lowered the bike and parked in the shade from our front tree. At that point I rushed in and showered off a few pounds for sweat and earlier grass clipping from doing the lawn and wash the ole grey locks so she could braid them for riding.
Just so you all know, we still made it to the place by 5:00 pm and there were several couples that came after us, so at this point I'm good. I had my usual pitcher of Diet Coke while everyone else got themselves into a knee wobbling stupor. You know the condition, when all the guys hug you and say I love you man...
So at this point its about 9:15 pm and we excuse ourselves, but everyone came up to the street to say good by. We put on our helmets and the wife hopped on, in her own slow fashion way. I had the switch to accessory to listen to Buddy Guy while we prepared to leave for home.
When all was done I flipped the ignition to ignition and no headlights!!!!!!!!
I had forgotten to plug in the headlight harness before snapping the fairing in place and buttoning up the bike. On the ride over to meet everyone, I wondered why I couldn't see my headlight modulator blinking in the trunk reflections when we were at stoplights, but I didn't let it sink in or check it out further.
I was composed and in full control of myself, I only said the "F" word about three times loud enough I think my neighbors back home heard me.
At this time I was thinking that I may be able to do something without pulling the fairing, but after close inspection and stalling for a solution to avoid the inevitable, the fairing had to come off.
I had my handy dandy HD tool kit with the Torx drive and 1/2" wrench, all one really needs to do this job.
Keep in mind that the very first time I did this it took me almost 3 hours to get the fairing to locate and snap into place. And that was with a couple phone calls to Don (twolanerider) for help and moral support.
So there we are with a bunch of drunk friends watching this unfold. This is in Old Town St. Charles MO on main street with very poor street lighting. So I unfold my tool kit on the Tour-Pak lid and start to work. One of the guys wanted to help, but I said there was a procedure in removing the screws etc so I could keep doing this myself.
In less than 15 minutes our frowns went to smiles and we were sitting back on the bike with helmets and headlights on. I never thought I could pull this off in that time frame let alone mostly in the dark. I left the windshield on this time and I just held it up, looked with a flashlight and one hit with my right palm and the fairing was nestled and snapped into place; couldn't have been easier!
We made it to Walgreen to get some ice cream just before 10:00 pm and my wife was a happy camper for the rest of the night.
I think from now on I will double check that I hooked everything back up before final screws and nuts...
All's well that ends well, they say...
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Topic: Major Missed Opportunity!!! (Read 2050 times)